DEI crackdown Illinois college campuses are feeling the heat as the Trump administration’s campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives picks up momentum. Dozens of institutions nationwide, including several in Illinois, are under federal investigation for alleged racial discrimination tied to DEI programs, with the threat of losing federal funding looming large.
The Illinois Board of Higher Education recently announced a pause on all DEI-related scholarship activities, signaling a major shift in response to federal scrutiny. Board officials said they will meet with lawmakers to review the legality of race-based programs. The move follows a Department of Justice report confirming that Illinois and six universities suspended minority-only scholarships after facing potential lawsuits.
University of Illinois system President Timothy Killeen testified before the Illinois House Appropriations and Higher Education Committee, acknowledging the university could lose up to $120 million in funding. Despite the potential loss, Killeen downplayed the threat, stating, “If it’s a storm, we will weather the storm like we weathered past storms and come out stronger than ever.”
University of Illinois officials also announced that, while they will not remove DEI-related language from websites under federal pressure, they will add clarifying language to ensure activities are “open to all,” aiming to avoid legal jeopardy.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the recent DEI program suspensions, stating, “This latest victory illustrates that the threat of legal action can be enough to force bad actors into dissolving harmful practices that disregard merit and divide Americans based on race.”
Meanwhile, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul pushed back, issuing guidance with 15 other Democratic attorneys general to defend DEI policies. Raoul vowed to continue standing against “discriminatory practices,” even as federal agencies move to restore merit-based education standards.
Critics of DEI initiatives argue that such programs undermine merit-based opportunities and foster division by prioritizing race and identity over individual achievement. Supporters of the Trump administration’s actions say the move restores fairness in education and ensures that taxpayer-funded programs comply with civil rights laws protecting all Americans equally.
